Chapter 423

Olivia

“Alright, everyone, we’re ready to go!”

Layla’s voice carried excitement as we stood in the living room, dressed in our wedding attire. Layla and Angela were wearing their matching bridesmaid dresses; a dark green color to match the vibrant pine trees. All three of us stood alongside one another, looking in the mirror.

I looked at myself in the mirror one last time. The silk of my wedding dress felt cool against my skin, and the intricate beads and lace almost seemed to glimmer in the light. The sleeves of my gown came down to points on each of my hands, and the white fur stole around my shoulders added a vintage feel to the look.

But right now, I wasn’t thinking about my gown or my hair or my makeup. I was thinking about how, somehow, I was marrying Nathan. It was finally happening after all these years, and I couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest bride in the world to be marrying my best friend.

But everyone felt that way on their wedding day, right?

“Oh, god, I’m getting so old,” Clint said, his cane clicking softly on the floor as he rounded the corner. He had slipped into a suit and had combed his hair neatly to the side, and for a moment, it felt as though I could see a flicker of the young man that still lived inside of him.

“Oh, Clint,” Angela said, approaching him and wrapping her arm around his shoulder. “You don’t look a day over seventy.”

Clint grunted and shrugged her off, rolling his eyes, although there was no real heat in the gesture. “Bratty kids, all of you,” he teased with a chuckle.

“We’re all ready?” I asked as I took one last look at the twins, still wide awake in their stroller.

“All ready,” Layla said with a grin.

But then, I was just about to step out of the house, with Layla and Angela by my side, and Clint in his suit, when it happened.

My heart sank, and panic coursed through me as I realized something was missing.

My mother’s locket.

I always wore it, a cherished keepsake from my late mother, and I couldn’t imagine getting married without it. But right now, it wasn’t around my neck like it usually was.

I stopped in the doorway, my fingers frantically searching around my neck. “It’s gone!” I exclaimed, my voice trembling with fear and frustration.

“What’s gone?” Angela asked.

“My locket—my mom’s locket! I have to find it!”

I didn’t need to tell them twice. Angela, Layla, Clint, and I all flew into a frenzy, searching every nook and cranny of the house. I only took off the locket to sleep, and I was sure I had been wearing it earlier.

“It’s not in here,” Layla called from the bedroom upstairs as I searched the living room.

“Not here, either,” Angela called from the kitchen.

I cursed under my breath, tears threatening to spill as I flipped the last couch cushion over—no necklace.

Did I lose it at the festival? If that was the case, then it was doomed. I’d likely never see it again, and the thought of that terrified me. It was the one thing I had left that belonged to my mother, and there was a picture of her and my father inside. With both of them dead, I needed to have them close in that way.

And if I lost that locket, I would be heartbroken.

But then, Clint’s voice carried through from the foyer.

“Olivia,” he said with a chuckle, “I found it.”

A gasp of relief escaped my lips as I rushed out of the living room and into the foyer where Clint was waiting, holding up the necklace.

“Oh my god, Clint,” I said, rushing forward and taking it from his hand, then fastening it around my neck, “where was it?”

Clint just pointed at Aurora. “There’s the thief,” he said. “I found it clutched in her grubby little hand.”

I couldn’t help but giggle as I stooped down to Aurora and Elliot in their stroller, pinching Aurora’s tiny cheek playfully. “You stole it when mommy was holding you earlier, didn’t you?” I said, laughing.

Aurora giggled and babbled in response, her bright eyes sparkling with innocence. And then, as if to surprise us even more, her lips parted and formed a…

A word.

“Mama.”

Everyone froze, staring at Aurora in shock as she continued to giggle and babble. We exchanged amazed glances, the realization sinking in that Aurora had just spoken her first word.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I cooed over her, showering her with kisses and praises. “That’s right, baby girl,” I said, my heart overflowing with love. “You said ‘mama.’ You’re such a clever girl.”

Jokingly, I turned to Elliot, who was blissfully unaware of the excitement around him, and said, “You had better catch up with your sister soon, or else she’ll beat you to it.”

Elliot, still just as clueless about what I was saying as ever, just giggled and shoved his stuffed animal into his mouth again, his big blue eyes wide with innocence. We all laughed at his adorable antics, and the tension from the missing locket dissipated into a sea of joy.

With the locket safely back around my neck, I finally felt ready to head to the wedding. We all gathered our things and made our way out of the house, pushing the twins in their stroller.

The festival awaited, and so did Nathan.

…

A little while later the four of us and the twins made our way back to the festival. It wasn’t long before I was met with a breathtaking sight—the gazebo, beautifully decorated, stood in front of me.

“Holy cow,” Angela murmured as we stopped a hundred yards away. “They did an amazing job.”

“Yeah,” I breathed. “They sure did.”

The gazebo was decorated beautifully, with festive green garlands, sheer white swags, and dangling fairy lights. A white carpet, sprinkled with fresh white flower petals to resemble snow, was rolled down the aisle. The festival goers were already seated in rows of chairs, their faces filled with anticipation.

But my focus was solely on Nathan, standing at the gazebo in his suit. He looked more handsome than ever as he stood there, and for a moment, it felt as if it was just the two of us in the whole world.

As I walked towards the gazebo, people whispered in awe and admiration. I stopped beside Clint at the beginning of the aisle, watching as Angela and Levi went ahead first, each of them holding one of the twins.

Next was Layla and Cade, and their little boy in their arms.

Finally, it was my turn. But I felt frozen to my spot, my hands trembling as I clutched Clint’s arm.

“You alright, Olivia?” Clint asked softly, patting my hand.

I swallowed. “Yeah, um… I’m just…”

“Scared?” Clint asked.

I nodded, unable to articulate what I was truly feeling. It all felt so fast, like I was caught in a whirlwind. A little over two hours ago, I had never suspected that I would be standing here, now, like this. But here I was, in this magical atmosphere with the soft strains of a violin playing, and the love of my life standing in front of me.

“I’m here with you,” Clint whispered, and then reached out to tap my locket. “And so are they.”

Clint’s words brought tears to my eyes. He was right; I wasn’t alone. I was never alone. And in this moment, I felt as though I was not only surrounded by my friends and my pack, but also my parents.

And they were proud of me.

With Clint on my arm, I started my journey up the aisle, past friends and pack members who had gathered to witness the ceremony.

But the whole time, my gaze never left Nathan and those blue-green eyes of his.